Prohibitory Orders Clamped At Meghalaya Uranium Site

MEGHALAYA

Prohibitory orders clamped at Meghalaya uranium site

Assam Tribune, SHILLONG

18th May 2006

Prohibitory orders have been clamped in Meghalaya's Wahkaji village, a site with uranium deposits, banning public meetings and the assembly of four or more persons.

The orders under Section 144 CrPC issued by the district magistrate would remain in force till further orders, official sources said here today.

No reason was given for the move, which came a few days after Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Chief Executive Member H S Shylla announced his plan to go to Wahkaji to lay the foundation stone for a road project.

On May 9 last, Shylla was prevented by the West Khasi Hills District Magistrate from going to Wahkaji area to talk to villagers on the uranium mining project. Various groups have opposed the mining of uranium since the deposit was found in the 1980s.

Alleging partisan attitude by the district authorities, Shylla later approached the Governor to remove the officials as activists of the anti-uranium lobby had been allowed to go to Wahkaji. The foundation stone for the Wahkaji-Mawthabah road, which would lead to the uranium deposit site, was to have been laid by Atomic Energy Commission chairman Anil Kakodkar but he cancelled his trip to Meghalaya following opposition from the anti-mining lobby. A few days ago, Shylla had announced plans to go to Wahkaji area again to lay the foundation stone.